Character Factor

How We Judge America's Presidents

By James P. Pfiffner

Publication Year: 2004

WATERGATE. MONICA LEWINSKY. PAINKILLERS IN THE OVAL OFFICE. IRAN-CONTRA. READ MY LIPS. THE CHARACTER FACTOR.
The American president’s character matters. To most Americans, it matters deeply. But how do we define what character means, and why can’t we agree?
In this sober, probing consideration of “the character factor” and the presidency, veteran political analyst James P. Pfiffner leads us through a survey of three aspects of presidential character that have proved problematic for recent chief executives: lies, promise-keeping, and sexual probity. His goal is not to tell us which presidents have been “good” and which “bad.” Rather, he helps us think critically and impartially about complex character issues and invites us to reach our own conclusions.
The Character Factor avoids both the abyss of moral relativism and the desert of political cynicism. It helps us look at our presidents (and our presidential candidates) without illusions, knowing that flawed men can still be great leaders but that some flaws deserve defeat at the polls—or even the ultimate presidential sanction, impeachment.

Cover

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface

The farcical elements resembled an eighteenth-century comedy of
manners in which the main character is caught in a sexual affair with a
woman not his wife and is greatly embarrassed by the discovery. Clinton’s
affair also had some far-fetched coincidences reminiscent of musical comedy.
The president is brought to court by a woman (Paula Jones) who felt
that her honor had been publicly impugned by the author of an article...

Chapter 1. Judging Presidential Character

In American partisan politics, the character issue is most often raised with
negative connotations to imply doubt about a person’s moral suitability
for high public office. William Safire’s New Political Dictionary defines the
character issue as “the moral uprightness of a candidate; or, a euphemism
for an attack on a candidate for philandering.” He adds that the term is
“almost always used in a verbal attack” that “insinuates a negative evaluation...

Chapter 2. The Nature of Presidential Lies

Virtually everybody lies, at least in the conduct of everyday life.1 We say
the equivalent of “I’m pleased to meet you” to people we consider our
adversaries or enemies. When asked by a casual acquaintance, “how are
you?” we say “fine,” even though we may feel rotten for emotional or
physical reasons. When a friend has been sick, we may say “you look...

Chapter 3. Serious Presidential Lies

In addition to justifiable lies, the lies analyzed in the previous chapter
range from relatively innocuous exaggerations about the personal background
of presidential candidates to lies meant to maintain political viability.
This chapter turns to presidential lies that are more serious and
have more far-reaching consequences than those in Chapter 2. First considered...

Chapter 4. Sexual Probity and Presidential Character

Even though the Clinton administration was accused of a number of
crimes and ethical lapses, the allegations of sexual impropriety attracted
the most attention and opprobrium. In public debate and campaigning,
the “character issue” became a shorthand reference to allegations of sexual
misconduct by Clinton. And amid other allegations, the charge that...

Chapter 5. Character, Consistency, and Campaign Promises

Presidential promises and consistency are important because of the basic
democratic premise that citizens need to know what politicians intend to
do in office in order to make informed judgments before casting their
ballots. If politicians did not regularly keep their promises, voters would
have much less information upon which to base their electoral choices....

Chapter 6. Three Presidents in Crisis

Three major crises of confidence have shaken the modern presidency—
Watergate, Iran-Contra, and President Clinton’s impeachment. Each of
them was caused not by external threats but by presidential decisions.
Each of them led to serious consideration of impeachment and removal
of the president from office: Nixon resigned in the face of virtually certain...

Chapter 7. Character Complexity

Presidents are complex human beings with many admirable attributes
but who often exhibit less commendable traits. They are, after all, human.
This chapter presents illustrations of presidential character complexity,
beginning with the paradox of Richard Nixon’s anti-Semitism. It
then takes up George Washington and the issue of slavery. How do we...

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